Simple Life Of Africa Suits Worker

ISLE OF WIGHT — After three years of malaria attacks, living without electricity or running water and cooking on charcoal and gas stoves, most people might be ready to settle down for a life of ease.

Not Scott Glover of Carrollton.

Glover, 27, recently returned from Kenya, where he worked for three years as an evangelist and health worker for Campus Crusade for Christ. Now, the Smithfield High School and Virginia Tech graduate is already working to raise money for a similar venture in East or Southeast Asia.

In February 1986, Glover moved to a rural area on Lake Victoria in southwestern Kenya. He was teamed with another worker for Campus Crusade for Christ. The two lived in a mud-walled house with a thatched roof for the last two years in Africa. Before that they lived in a medical clinic. For three days a month, when the clinic was occupied, the two lived in tents.

They had to walk 15 or 20 minutes to get water. Their mailbox was in a town that was a 90-minute drive away. The nearest grocery store was a 2 1/2-hour drive away.

"To be real honest, getting used to having no running water or electricity wasn't the hardest part of living there," Glover said. "Maybe we were just weird and enjoyed it."

Learning to live with the attitudes of the people in his area required a bigger adjustment than the hardships, Glover said. "It's a very male-dominated society," Glover said. "You think that about the U.S., but you go over there and you think this is a feminist society."

The residents of the area followed strict gender roles. Women were in charge of preparing food, while the men were in charge of tending the livestock. "The women ended up doing a lot of the work, and the men made the decisions," Glover explained. "A lot of time they decided the women should do the work."

Living in the area had its payoffs, Glover said. He enjoyed the slower pace of life, and found the residents extremely friendly, he said.

Glover, 1980 valedictorian of Smithfield High, got involved with Campus Crusade for Christ during his freshman year at Virginia Tech. When he graduated in 1985, he went to work for the organization.

Glover could have gone to work at a college campus in the United States, but he opted for an overseas assignment. His first choice was Asia, but no positions were available, so he decided on Africa.

Before going to Kenya, Glover underwent 12 weeks of training in inner-city Los Angeles to help him adjust to different cultures.

Once in Kenya, Glover spent his time training health workers to deal with problems such as malaria. He also did evangelical work. In addition, he worked on various projects like raising chickens, building latrines and planting fruit trees.

A great deal of time was spent cooking and doing the other necessary chores that were made difficult without appliances. Meals frequently consisted of fish from the nearby lake. Potatoes were another frequent menu item.

Spare time was spent playing volleyball with local youths. "We learned how to play a lot of different card games," he said.

His work in Kenya showed him that people could live happily without lots of possessions.

"I've seen people live a very simple lifestyle and enjoy it," Glover said. "The people were very happy. They weren't moping around because they didn't have a VCR."